Sunshine Afternoon~

Heading toward Butch~

Stellar - how many ways can you say it?  We'd started out up the dune trails, checking out every one we could find :-)  Then - once we were on the beach, I called Butch to tell him we'd be heading his way.  We could see him up ahead from a couple miles out!

Butch took some photos - then did this video of us.  Farah again - was happy to be trotting along side Ody - she wasn't pulling to get ahead, not giving him the sideways nasty looks that she does when others try riding beside us...  We'd ridden what had become our usual loop, but each day was so fresh & new that everything we saw felt the same!

Heading north to Mazanita~

 We decided to go on north & see how far we could get before reaching the river.  Ody hesitated at the water crossing - so Farah - who of course didn't like water at ALL when I first started her - decided to show him how it was done :-)

Butch's signage :-)

The red bandana that had been attached to the post marking the way back to the horse camp - had finally blown away & it was really hard to find the post from the beach!  We'd mentioned this to Butch & he tried to mark the way for us!  Sadly - by the time we were back - it had been blown away in the strong wind!

Beach Trip - Odds & Ends ~

Of course there are those photos that don't really fit into any "story line" -  I have to post - just because!  :-)

Rascal playing cards with Butch :-)

We'd bought a book & have taught ourselves to play rummy.  Bruce showed up & told us that the way we were playing was just plain wrong!  When we said we'd bought a book - his reply was that it was obviously a book written in China!  :-)  If not by Hoyle then how could the rules be correct?  When you pit a Norwegian against a Swede - you can imagine the discussion that ensued!  Finally Butch said he would play by "his" rules & Bruce & I could play by Bruce's!  Guess who won???

That cloud bank~

Looking NW

Farah grazing around our camp site~

My view~

It was a golden trip, golden days & star filled nights!  Peace, quiet, friends, horses...  We all loaded up on Sunday morning & hit the road for home.

None of us who know Janelle - can ever thank her enough for making us into one large family!  More of a daughter to me that just a friend, those hugs are something that I don't get often enough...  The work she goes to planning this trip - making it happen & keeping us all within her inner circle of friends is beyond value!  We returned home refreshed, renewed & happy to have had such a fine time!

Beach Trip - Day 4 ~

10 a.m. & heading out!

Here it was...  already our last day...  Each day was so nice, that no one could believe that our time here had gone so fast!  Everyone was riding, eating, visiting & not even wanting to Think about heading home.

Justin & his Morgan!

Justin had brought his buggy & seeing his Gorgeous Morgan pulling it was a sight!  He'd hoped to get it down to the beach- but there just wasn't access - instead - he toured camp!

 Since it was the day the California Chrome was to race in the Belmont - we made plans to go a restaurant/bar in Manzanita to watch the race!

Janelle insisted on our nose strips!  For Luck!

 Well...  We were all disappointed...  The food & beer were great & we had fun!  Heading back to camp - everyone wanted to get out on the beach at least one more time.

Trail to the beach~

It was getting late & the tide was coming back in - sand now too deep for any fast gallops.  I was disappointed that we didn't have the low evening tides that we'd enjoyed last year.

Farah & Connie

We still did a couple short runs, there was a large cloud bank that obscured the sunset, but even so - the end of the day at the coast is - like nowhere else...

Beach Trip - Day 3 ~

Connie & Dena~

On this day, there was a trip to Tillamook planed that Lynette took advantage of, so that left Dena & me to do some more riding :-)  Butch filmed our little morning gallop down the beach.

It was another beautiful day!  We'd ridden all the way south to the jetty on the dune trails, which are beautiful!  I'd taken photos with my saddle camera - but have somehow managed to delete them when going through all the photos from three cameras & my smartphone.  These trails are used by the Wrangler who has the horse concession at the park.  We were all impressed with the string of horses that they were using.  It was after noon by the time we'd come back north & met Butch to get a little video.

Farah just seems to love digging in & going up this dune, so this time I let her have her way!  :-)  Fun for us both!

Bruce had to leave for home, so Butch & I had a late lunch then sat out soaking up the sun!  After dinner, everyone was ready for another ride, so we saddled up & headed out on the trails again.

On the Trail~

The late afternoon was such a nice time to ride, the winds would die down & with the long days, if we could have found more trail - we would have ridden it!

Dena & Bella lead the way~

Here we're coming to the area where there's an arena, really nice - but watch for rocks!  We were only out for a short while, Lynelle's mare Izzy didn't seem too happy to be on the trail & kept trying to turn back.  Once back in camp - Lynelle realized that the mare was having a reaction to her shots!  Poor girl - her hip swelled & by later - she could hardly walk.  Tough mare - with good care, hosing, walking & a few drugs for pain - she was much better the next day, but not ready for the beach gallop that Lynelle had hoped for :-(

Beach Trip - Day 2 ~

Let the Fun Begin!

Farah - morning~

Oh boy - are we having fun yet???  With Justin & Tony's handsome geldings in the corrals behind hers, Farah was distraught any time they left!  Why?  Oh Why?  Looking at her & thinking of her antic's from the night before...  I had my doubts about what kind of ride I'd be getting today!

Butch & Bruce - Coffee!  Food!  :-)

Our VBF Bruce drove down from Portland to spend a couple days with us!  It had been since last year - so we had a lot of catching up to do!  But with the sun shining & a perfect day ahead of us - it was time to saddle up & go!

 Two show princesses & the endurance pony!  Lynelle on Izzy, Connie & Farah, Dena & Bella

We found Dena & Lynelle ready to head out too - so away we went!  The plan was to ride the dune trails all the way to the southern jetty - then come back on the beach.

The Three Amigo's

There is absolutely nothing on earth like riding on the beach!  Even in the strong winds - the sound, the surf, the air - everything is so fresh, new & raw that the impact effects you to your very soul.  The friends you ride with become your soul mates - the horses feel it too.

We head north~

Each day we'd ride out in the morning & again in the evening.  Too beautiful to not be out there~